Public Trust in Government: 1958-2017

Public trust in the government remains near historic lows. Only 18% of Americans today say they can trust the government in Washington to do what is right “just about always” (3%) or “most of the time” (15%).

Public trust in government near historic lows

Date

.

Individual polls

Moving average

12/04/2017

PEW

18

18

4/11/2017

PEW

20

19

10/04/2015

PEW

19

18

7/20/2014

CNN

14

19

2/26/2014

PEW

24

18

11/15/2013

CBS/NYT

17

20

10/13/2013

PEW

19

19

5/31/2013

CBS/NYT

20

20

2/06/2013

CBS/NYT

20

22

1/13/2013

PEW

26

23

10/31/2012

NES

22

19

10/19/2011

CBS/NYT

10

17

10/04/2011

PEW

20

15

9/23/2011

CNN

15

18

8/21/2011

PEW

19

21

2/28/2011

PEW

29

23

10/21/2010

CBS/NYT

22

23

10/01/2010

CBS/NYT

18

21

9/06/2010

PEW

24

23

9/01/2010

CNN

25

23

4/05/2010

CBS/NYT

20

23

4/05/2010

PEW

25

22

3/21/2010

PEW

22

24

2/12/2010

CNN

26

22

2/05/2010

CBS/NYT

19

21

1/10/2010

GALLUP

19

20

12/20/2009

CNN

20

21

8/31/2009

CBS/NYT

24

22

6/12/2009

CBS/NYT

20

23

12/21/2008

CNN

26

25

10/15/2008

NES

31

24

10/13/2008

CBS/NYT

17

24

7/09/2007

CBS/NYT

24

24

1/09/2007

PEW

31

28

10/08/2006

CBS/NYT

29

29

9/15/2006

CBS/NYT

28

30

2/05/2006

PEW

34

31

1/20/2006

CBS/NYT

32

33

1/06/2006

GALLUP

32

32

12/02/2005

CBS/NYT

32

32

9/11/2005

PEW

31

31

9/09/2005

CBS/NYT

29

30

6/19/2005

GALLUP

30

35

10/15/2004

NES

46

39

7/15/2004

CBS/NYT

40

41

3/21/2004

PEW

36

38

10/26/2003

GALLUP

37

36

7/27/2003

CBS/NYT

36

43

10/15/2002

NES

55

46

9/04/2002

GALLUP

46

46

9/02/2002

CBS/NYT

38

40

7/13/2002

CBS/NYT

38

40

6/17/2002

GALLUP

44

43

1/24/2002

CBS/NYT

46

46

12/07/2001

CBS/NYT

48

49

10/25/2001

CBS/NYT

55

54

10/06/2001

GALLUP

60

49

1/17/2001

CBS/NYT

31

44

10/31/2000

CBS/NYT

40

38

10/15/2000

NES

44

42

7/09/2000

GALLUP

42

39

4/02/2000

ABC/POST

31

38

2/14/2000

PEW

40

34

10/03/1999

CBS/NYT

30

36

9/14/1999

CBS/NYT

38

33

5/16/1999

PEW

31

33

2/21/1999

PEW

31

31

2/12/1999

ABC/POST

32

32

2/04/1999

GALLUP

33

34

1/10/1999

CBS/NYT

37

34

1/03/1999

CBS/NYT

33

37

12/01/1998

NES

40

33

11/15/1998

PEW

26

30

11/01/1998

CBS/NYT

24

26

10/26/1998

CBS/NYT

26

28

8/10/1998

ABC/POST

34

31

2/22/1998

PEW

34

35

2/01/1998

GALLUP

39

33

1/25/1998

CBS/NYT

26

32

1/19/1998

ABC/POST

31

32

10/31/1997

PEW

39

31

8/27/1997

ABC/POST

22

31

6/01/1997

GALLUP

32

26

1/14/1997

CBS/NYT

23

27

11/02/1996

CBS/NYT

25

27

10/15/1996

NES

33

28

5/12/1996

GALLUP

27

31

5/06/1996

ABC/POST

34

29

11/19/1995

ABC/POST

25

27

8/07/1995

GALLUP

22

22

8/05/1995

CBS/NYT

20

21

3/19/1995

ABC/POST

22

20

2/22/1995

CBS/NYT

18

21

12/01/1994

NES

22

21

10/29/1994

CBS/NYT

22

22

10/23/1994

ABC/POST

22

20

6/06/1994

GALLUP

17

19

1/30/1994

GALLUP

19

20

1/20/1994

ABC/POST

24

22

3/24/1993

GALLUP

22

25

1/17/1993

ABC/POST

28

25

1/14/1993

CBS/NYT

24

25

10/23/1992

CBS/NYT

22

25

10/15/1992

NES

29

25

6/08/1992

GALLUP

23

29

10/20/1991

ABC/POST

35

35

3/06/1991

CBS/NYT

47

42

3/01/1991

ABC/POST

45

46

1/27/1991

ABC/POST

46

40

12/01/1990

NES

28

33

10/28/1990

CBS/NYT

25

32

9/06/1990

ABC/POST

42

35

1/16/1990

ABC/POST

38

38

6/29/1989

CBS/NYT

35

39

1/15/1989

CBS/NYT

44

41

11/10/1988

CBS/NYT

44

43

10/15/1988

NES

41

41

1/23/1988

ABC/POST

39

40

10/18/1987

CBS/NYT

41

43

6/01/1987

ABC/POST

47

43

3/01/1987

CBS/NYT

42

44

1/21/1987

CBS/NYT

43

43

1/19/1987

ABC/POST

44

42

12/01/1986

NES

39

44

11/30/1986

CBS/NYT

49

43

9/09/1986

ABC/POST

40

44

1/19/1986

CBS/NYT

42

44

11/06/1985

CBS/NYT

49

43

7/29/1985

ABC/POST

38

42

3/21/1985

ABC/POST

37

40

2/27/1985

CBS/NYT

46

42

2/22/1985

ABC/POST

43

45

11/14/1984

CBS/NYT

46

44

10/15/1984

NES

44

41

12/01/1982

NES

33

39

11/07/1980

CBS/NYT

39

32

10/15/1980

NES

25

30

3/12/1980

CBS/NYT

26

27

11/03/1979

CBS/NYT

30

28

12/01/1978

NES

29

31

10/23/1977

CBS/NYT

33

32

4/25/1977

CBS/NYT

35

34

10/15/1976

NES

33

36

9/05/1976

CBS/NYT

40

35

6/15/1976

CBS/NYT

33

35

3/01/1976

GALLUP

33

34

2/08/1976

CBS/NYT

36

35

12/01/1974

NES

36

36

10/15/1972

NES

53

53

12/01/1970

NES

54

54

10/15/1968

NES

62

62

12/01/1966

NES

65

65

10/15/1964

NES

77

77

12/01/1958

NES

73

73

Pew Research Center

When the National Election Study began asking about trust in government in 1958, about three-quarters of Americans trusted the federal government to do the right thing almost always or most of the time. Trust in government began eroding during the 1960s, amid the escalation of the Vietnam War, and the decline continued in the 1970s with the Watergate scandal and worsening economic struggles. Confidence in government recovered in the mid-1980s before falling again in the mid-1990s. But as the economy grew in the late 1990s so too did confidence in government. Public trust reached a three-decade high shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but declined quickly thereafter. Since 2007, the share saying they can trust the government always or most of the time has not surpassed 30%.

Currently, 22% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents say they can trust government, compared with 15% of Democrats and Democratic leaners. Throughout Obama’s tenure, more Democrats than Republicans reported trusting the government, though that has flipped since Trump’s election. Since the 1970s, trust in government has been consistently higher among members of the party that controls the White House than among the opposition party. However, Republicans have been much more reactive than Democrats to changes in political power. Republicans have expressed much higher levels of trust during Republican than during Democratic presidencies, while Democrats’ attitudes have tended to be more consistent, regardless of which party controls the White House.

Trust in govt higher among members of party that controls presidency

Date

.

No partisan lean

Democrat/Lean Dem

Republican/Lean Rep

12/04/2017

PEW

15

15

22

4/11/2017

PEW

12

15

28

10/04/2015

PEW

16

26

11

7/20/2014

CNN

8

17

11

2/26/2014

PEW

19

32

16

11/15/2013

CBS/NYT

12

31

8

10/13/2013

PEW

17

27

10

5/31/2013

CBS/NYT

20

30

8

2/06/2013

CBS/NYT

15

34

8

1/13/2013

PEW

15

37

15

10/31/2012

NES

15

29

16

10/19/2011

CBS/NYT

10

13

8

10/04/2011

PEW

17

27

12

9/23/2011

CNN

6

20

11

8/21/2011

PEW

12

25

13

3/01/2011

PEW

27

34

24

10/21/2010

CBS/NYT

18

36

7

10/01/2010

CBS/NYT

15

27

13

9/06/2010

PEW

15

35

13

9/01/2010

CNN

13

31

18

4/05/2010

CBS/NYT

18

27

14

3/21/2010

PEW

18

32

13

2/12/2010

CNN

19

34

18

2/05/2010

CBS/NYT

17

31

9

1/10/2010

GALLUP

11

23

16

12/20/2009

CNN

15

25

16

8/31/2009

CBS/NYT

22

34

12

6/12/2009

CBS/NYT

12

35

10

12/21/2008

CNN

19

30

22

10/15/2008

NES

28

34

31

10/13/2008

CBS/NYT

28

12

19

7/09/2007

CBS/NYT

22

18

31

1/09/2007

PEW

32

22

43

10/08/2006

CBS/NYT

19

20

50

9/15/2006

CBS/NYT

21

20

44

2/05/2006

PEW

26

20

53

1/20/2006

CBS/NYT

25

23

51

1/06/2006

GALLUP

15

20

44

12/02/2005

CBS/NYT

29

19

52

9/11/2005

PEW

20

19

49

9/09/2005

CBS/NYT

28

21

42

6/19/2005

GALLUP

24

24

36

10/15/2004

NES

42

62

37

3/21/2004

PEW

31

24

55

10/26/2003

GALLUP

22

35

42

7/27/2003

CBS/NYT

29

25

51

10/15/2002

NES

52

52

63

9/04/2002

GALLUP

46

38

55

9/02/2002

CBS/NYT

32

32

52

7/13/2002

CBS/NYT

28

34

45

6/17/2002

GALLUP

40

33

55

1/24/2002

CBS/NYT

37

39

56

12/07/2001

CBS/NYT

45

39

60

10/25/2001

CBS/NYT

50

47

70

10/06/2001

GALLUP

53

52

68

1/17/2001

CBS/NYT

27

26

38

10/15/2000

NES

41

48

43

7/09/2000

GALLUP

40

42

41

4/02/2000

ABC/POST

23

38

24

2/14/2000

PEW

32

46

37

10/03/1999

CBS/NYT

33

31

27

9/14/1999

CBS/NYT

32

42

35

5/16/1999

PEW

21

36

30

2/21/1999

PEW

28

35

25

2/12/1999

ABC/POST

29

41

21

2/04/1999

GALLUP

28

38

29

1/10/1999

CBS/NYT

22

42

33

1/03/1999

CBS/NYT

28

37

29

12/01/1998

NES

39

45

35

11/19/1998

PEW

20

31

23

11/01/1998

CBS/NYT

18

28

22

10/26/1998

CBS/NYT

19

28

25

8/10/1998

ABC/POST

25

40

30

2/22/1998

PEW

25

42

28

2/01/1998

GALLUP

29

52

26

1/25/1998

CBS/NYT

17

31

22

10/31/1997

PEW

31

46

32

6/01/1997

GALLUP

28

39

25

1/14/1997

CBS/NYT

13

29

20

11/02/1996

CBS/NYT

20

31

20

10/15/1996

NES

30

40

27

5/12/1996

GALLUP

22

32

20

5/06/1996

ABC/POST

28

41

35

11/19/1995

ABC/POST

16

27

26

8/07/1995

GALLUP

15

24

21

8/05/1995

CBS/NYT

17

20

20

3/19/1995

ABC/POST

14

27

20

2/22/1995

CBS/NYT

11

18

19

12/01/1994

NES

20

26

18

10/29/1994

CBS/NYT

12

26

19

10/23/1994

ABC/POST

17

27

16

6/06/1994

GALLUP

13

23

11

1/30/1994

GALLUP

15

25

14

1/20/1994

ABC/POST

22

30

18

3/24/1993

GALLUP

14

32

11

1/17/1993

ABC/POST

16

32

25

1/14/1993

CBS/NYT

23

26

21

10/23/1992

CBS/NYT

14

17

31

10/15/1992

NES

24

31

34

6/08/1992

GALLUP

13

17

31

10/20/1991

ABC/POST

29

31

41

3/06/1991

CBS/NYT

38

40

56

3/01/1991

ABC/POST

29

41

52

12/01/1990

NES

27

26

32

10/28/1990

CBS/NYT

23

21

31

9/06/1990

ABC/POST

37

37

48

1/16/1990

ABC/POST

32

32

46

6/29/1989

CBS/NYT

34

27

45

1/15/1989

CBS/NYT

40

37

54

11/10/1988

CBS/NYT

41

36

58

10/15/1988

NES

38

35

51

1/23/1988

ABC/POST

26

31

51

10/18/1987

CBS/NYT

34

36

47

6/01/1987

ABC/POST

46

38

59

3/01/1987

CBS/NYT

40

34

54

1/21/1987

CBS/NYT

45

36

51

1/19/1987

ABC/POST

40

39

51

12/01/1986

NES

36

31

53

11/30/1986

CBS/NYT

54

37

63

9/09/1986

ABC/POST

32

30

51

1/19/1986

CBS/NYT

37

36

51

11/06/1985

CBS/NYT

39

42

59

7/29/1985

ABC/POST

33

30

48

3/21/1985

ABC/POST

31

29

49

2/22/1985

ABC/POST

21

30

62

11/14/1984

CBS/NYT

43

36

59

10/15/1984

NES

42

41

50

12/01/1982

NES

28

32

41

11/07/1980

CBS/NYT

37

40

42

10/15/1980

NES

20

31

23

3/12/1980

CBS/NYT

21

30

22

11/03/1979

CBS/NYT

28

32

28

12/01/1978

NES

27

33

26

10/23/1977

CBS/NYT

30

40

25

4/25/1977

CBS/NYT

32

37

34

10/15/1976

NES

32

30

42

9/05/1976

CBS/NYT

36

38

45

6/15/1976

CBS/NYT

29

36

36

3/01/1976

GALLUP

23

31

40

12/01/1974

NES

36

36

38

10/15/1972

NES

52

48

62

12/01/1970

NES

51

52

61

10/15/1968

NES

56

66

60

12/01/1966

NES

65

71

54

10/15/1964

NES

74

80

73

12/01/1958

NES

71

71

79

Pew Research Center

Trust in government by party and ideology

Date

.

No partisan lean

Liberal Dem/Lean Dem

Cons-Moderate Dem/Lean Dem

Moderate-Lib Rep/Lean Rep

Conservative Rep/Lean Rep

12/04/2017

PEW

15

15

16

26

20

4/11/2017

PEW

12

15

16

32

26

10/04/2015

PEW

16

28

25

14

9

7/20/2014

CNN

8

19

16

15

7

2/26/2014

PEW

19

31

33

21

13

11/15/2013

CBS/NYT

12

38

25

13

5

10/13/2013

PEW

17

25

27

16

7

5/31/2013

CBS/NYT

20

30

30

16

4

2/06/2013

CBS/NYT

15

35

34

9

7

1/13/2013

PEW

15

34

37

17

14

10/31/2012

NES

15

26

32

18

15

10/19/2011

CBS/NYT

10

9

13

11

7

10/04/2011

PEW

17

30

25

14

9

9/23/2011

CNN

6

30

16

11

11

8/21/2011

PEW

12

26

24

18

10

3/01/2011

PEW

27

36

33

32

18

10/21/2010

CBS/NYT

18

37

35

12

4

10/01/2010

CBS/NYT

15

34

22

10

16

9/06/2010

PEW

15

39

31

19

10

9/01/2010

CNN

13

36

30

28

11

4/05/2010

CBS/NYT

18

37

21

23

7

3/21/2010

PEW

18

36

31

19

11

2/12/2010

CNN

19

36

34

25

9

2/05/2010

CBS/NYT

17

31

32

13

7

1/10/2010

GALLUP

11

29

22

20

12

12/20/2009

CNN

15

31

23

18

13

8/31/2009

CBS/NYT

22

38

30

14

10

6/12/2009

CBS/NYT

12

42

34

13

8

12/21/2008

CNN

19

36

28

28

17

10/15/2008

NES

28

37

34

48

28

10/13/2008

CBS/NYT

28

16

12

26

12

7/09/2007

CBS/NYT

22

14

21

38

28

1/09/2007

PEW

32

15

25

41

45

10/08/2006

CBS/NYT

19

14

22

50

51

9/15/2006

CBS/NYT

21

11

23

44

44

2/05/2006

PEW

26

13

23

52

54

1/20/2006

CBS/NYT

25

27

21

52

50

1/06/2006

GALLUP

15

10

26

33

56

12/02/2005

CBS/NYT

29

16

21

60

47

9/11/2005

PEW

20

13

22

39

54

9/09/2005

CBS/NYT

28

12

26

46

41

6/19/2005

GALLUP

24

25

24

31

41

10/15/2004

NES

42

65

61

31

41

3/21/2004

PEW

31

23

24

53

56

10/26/2003

GALLUP

22

23

39

31

52

7/27/2003

CBS/NYT

29

21

27

55

47

10/15/2002

NES

53

53

56

66

61

9/04/2002

GALLUP

46

31

40

50

60

9/02/2002

CBS/NYT

32

32

32

55

53

7/13/2002

CBS/NYT

28

37

33

50

42

6/17/2002

GALLUP

40

30

36

59

55

1/24/2002

CBS/NYT

37

38

39

58

54

12/07/2001

CBS/NYT

45

34

43

61

58

10/06/2001

GALLUP

53

46

55

66

69

1/17/2001

CBS/NYT

27

33

24

41

33

10/15/2000

NES

43

58

52

54

44

7/09/2000

GALLUP

40

41

42

50

35

4/02/2000

ABC/POST

24

38

39

28

20

10/03/1999

CBS/NYT

33

26

33

29

24

9/14/1999

CBS/NYT

32

38

45

42

27

2/12/1999

ABC/POST

29

40

43

26

16

2/04/1999

GALLUP

28

36

40

33

27

1/10/1999

CBS/NYT

22

39

44

40

28

1/03/1999

CBS/NYT

28

34

39

31

26

12/01/1998

NES

39

45

46

39

34

11/01/1998

CBS/NYT

18

28

28

23

22

10/26/1998

CBS/NYT

19

30

28

22

26

8/10/1998

ABC/POST

25

38

35

24

27

2/01/1998

GALLUP

29

55

52

33

23

1/25/1998

CBS/NYT

17

24

31

24

19

6/01/1997

GALLUP

28

41

38

31

21

1/14/1997

CBS/NYT

13

30

28

25

14

11/02/1996

CBS/NYT

20

30

32

21

19

10/15/1996

NES

30

38

39

30

25

5/12/1996

GALLUP

22

25

35

25

18

5/06/1996

ABC/POST

28

41

41

39

33

11/19/1995

ABC/POST

16

26

27

26

28

8/07/1995

GALLUP

15

16

27

17

25

8/05/1995

CBS/NYT

17

21

19

19

23

3/19/1995

ABC/POST

14

24

28

22

17

2/22/1995

CBS/NYT

11

20

18

22

17

12/01/1994

NES

20

22

28

21

16

10/29/1994

CBS/NYT

12

26

27

23

15

10/23/1994

ABC/POST

17

32

25

22

11

6/06/1994

GALLUP

13

16

26

15

9

1/30/1994

GALLUP

15

20

27

18

12

1/20/1994

ABC/POST

22

26

31

25

10

1/17/1993

ABC/POST

16

30

33

28

22

1/14/1993

CBS/NYT

23

17

30

20

20

10/23/1992

CBS/NYT

14

20

15

30

32

10/15/1992

NES

24

26

33

37

31

6/08/1992

GALLUP

13

13

19

31

30

10/20/1991

ABC/POST

29

25

33

42

39

3/06/1991

CBS/NYT

38

46

39

57

56

3/01/1991

ABC/POST

29

39

41

54

50

12/01/1990

NES

27

27

26

31

33

9/06/1990

ABC/POST

37

34

39

49

45

1/16/1990

ABC/POST

32

28

34

50

39

6/29/1989

CBS/NYT

34

27

27

38

55

1/15/1989

CBS/NYT

40

33

38

56

54

11/10/1988

CBS/NYT

41

24

40

65

52

10/15/1988

NES

39

34

35

52

51

1/23/1988

ABC/POST

26

30

31

54

49

10/18/1987

CBS/NYT

34

34

37

47

49

6/01/1987

ABC/POST

46

34

41

60

55

1/21/1987

CBS/NYT

45

34

37

54

48

1/19/1987

ABC/POST

40

37

38

52

51

12/01/1986

NES

36

25

36

53

53

9/09/1986

ABC/POST

32

25

34

55

44

1/19/1986

CBS/NYT

37

34

38

51

52

11/06/1985

CBS/NYT

39

42

43

60

56

7/29/1985

ABC/POST

33

26

33

53

41

3/21/1985

ABC/POST

31

27

29

52

48

2/22/1985

ABC/POST

21

28

33

62

63

10/15/1984

NES

42

34

47

52

46

12/01/1982

NES

28

29

35

48

38

11/07/1980

CBS/NYT

37

38

42

44

41

10/15/1980

NES

20

34

28

28

18

3/12/1980

CBS/NYT

21

31

29

25

18

11/03/1979

CBS/NYT

28

34

31

28

26

12/01/1978

NES

27

38

33

24

24

10/23/1977

CBS/NYT

30

41

41

32

16

4/25/1977

CBS/NYT

32

41

38

33

36

10/15/1976

NES

32

27

34

49

41

9/05/1976

CBS/NYT

36

33

42

45

45

6/15/1976

CBS/NYT

29

35

35

39

34

12/01/1974

NES

37

36

40

39

40

10/15/1972

NES

53

44

53

62

66

Pew Research Center

Historically, there have been modest differences between generational groups in trust in government and that remains the case today. Currently, 20% of Millennials (now ages 18-36) report trusting the government, similar to the shares of older generations who say the same. Trust in government remains at or near historically low levels across generational lines.

Trust in government by generation

Date

.

Greatest

Silent

Boomer

Gen X

Millennial

12/4/2017

PEW

18

14

17

15

4/11/2017

PEW

14

20

22

19

10/4/2015

PEW

16

14

19

24

7/20/2014

CNN

11

10

14

19

2/26/2014

PEW

24

21

24

27

11/15/2013

CBS/NYT

13

16

15

21

10/13/2013

PEW

16

17

16

26

5/31/2013

CBS/NYT

20

15

18

29

2/6/2013

CBS/NYT

21

19

18

24

1/13/2013

PEW

23

23

24

32

10/19/2011

CBS/NYT

5

6

8

19

10/4/2011

PEW

16

16

19

26

9/23/2011

CNN

8

10

16

25

8/21/2011

PEW

15

16

17

25

3/14/2011

PEW

25

29

26

34

10/21/2010

CBS/NYT

20

17

27

23

10/1/2010

CBS/NYT

14

17

21

22

9/6/2010

PEW

22

20

25

29

9/1/2010

CNN

21

23

23

4/5/2010

CBS/NYT

14

14

26

4/1/2010

PEW

22

22

20

37

3/21/2010

PEW

18

18

23

32

2/12/2010

CNN

26

25

25

2/5/2010

CBS/NYT

20

18

26

1/10/2010

GALLUP

16

14

19

32

12/20/2009

CNN

21

17

19

8/31/2009

CBS/NYT

16

18

21

43

6/12/2009

CBS/NYT

14

22

22

12/21/2008

CNN

23

26

21

10/15/2008

NES

30

31

29

32

10/13/2008

CBS/NYT

14

11

14

7/9/2007

CBS/NYT

14

19

26

39

1/9/2007

PEW

31

30

31

32

10/8/2006

CBS/NYT

27

25

34

9/15/2006

CBS/NYT

21

25

31

2/5/2006

PEW

32

32

38

32

1/20/2006

CBS/NYT

29

29

31

1/6/2006

GALLUP

29

30

33

12/2/2005

CBS/NYT

29

29

36

9/11/2005

PEW

31

30

34

9/9/2005

CBS/NYT

29

23

35

6/19/2005

GALLUP

31

25

37

10/15/2004

NES

48

49

42

43

3/21/2004

PEW

35

37

34

44

10/26/2003

GALLUP

34

36

38

7/27/2003

CBS/NYT

27

36

37

10/15/2002

NES

59

55

52

9/4/2002

GALLUP

35

47

51

9/2/2002

CBS/NYT

33

34

42

7/13/2002

CBS/NYT

32

35

42

6/17/2002

GALLUP

41

44

47

1/24/2002

CBS/NYT

41

45

50

12/7/2001

CBS/NYT

45

48

51

10/25/2001

CBS/NYT

49

56

56

10/6/2001

GALLUP

51

59

62

1/17/2001

CBS/NYT

32

31

33

10/15/2000

NES

57

50

39

43

7/9/2000

GALLUP

40

39

44

4/2/2000

ABC/POST

30

26

33

10/3/1999

CBS/NYT

24

33

33

9/14/1999

CBS/NYT

40

36

36

41

2/12/1999

ABC/POST

29

31

36

2/4/1999

GALLUP

35

32

1/10/1999

CBS/NYT

36

35

33

43

1/3/1999

CBS/NYT

27

31

32

37

12/1/1998

NES

36

34

38

49

11/1/1998

CBS/NYT

22

22

27

24

10/26/1998

CBS/NYT

21

27

28

8/10/1998

ABC/POST

26

34

37

2/1/1998

GALLUP

37

29

45

1/25/1998

CBS/NYT

29

25

27

10/31/1997

PEW

39

36

39

6/1/1997

GALLUP

32

30

37

1/14/1997

CBS/NYT

25

22

21

27

11/2/1996

CBS/NYT

30

24

23

27

10/15/1996

NES

37

34

32

31

5/12/1996

GALLUP

35

19

23

35

5/6/1996

ABC/POST

40

33

29

40

11/19/1995

ABC/POST

28

18

26

28

8/7/1995

GALLUP

15

23

23

23

8/5/1995

CBS/NYT

19

17

18

24

3/19/1995

ABC/POST

23

20

22

25

2/22/1995

CBS/NYT

19

16

17

21

12/1/1994

NES

28

20

20

24

10/29/1994

CBS/NYT

25

19

20

24

10/23/1994

ABC/POST

28

21

21

19

6/6/1994

GALLUP

13

14

14

26

1/30/1994

GALLUP

19

19

17

25

1/20/1994

ABC/POST

32

23

21

24

3/24/1993

GALLUP

28

21

19

26

1/17/1993

ABC/POST

25

28

25

35

1/14/1993

CBS/NYT

31

25

20

26

10/23/1992

CBS/NYT

21

18

22

29

10/15/1992

NES

28

29

29

30

6/8/1992

GALLUP

21

11

26

30

10/20/1991

ABC/POST

31

31

36

42

3/6/1991

CBS/NYT

36

40

50

58

3/1/1991

ABC/POST

38

41

45

58

12/1/1990

NES

27

27

27

36

10/28/1990

CBS/NYT

20

22

25

34

9/6/1990

ABC/POST

37

41

42

51

1/16/1990

ABC/POST

37

34

38

48

6/29/1989

CBS/NYT

28

37

36

38

1/15/1989

CBS/NYT

42

37

46

52

11/10/1988

CBS/NYT

38

40

47

47

10/15/1988

NES

41

43

39

42

1/23/1988

ABC/POST

33

32

42

58

10/18/1987

CBS/NYT

30

39

46

6/1/1987

ABC/POST

45

46

48

57

3/1/1987

CBS/NYT

36

36

46

1/21/1987

CBS/NYT

39

37

46

56

1/19/1987

ABC/POST

43

41

43

12/1/1986

NES

40

40

38

31

11/30/1986

CBS/NYT

47

45

48

9/9/1986

ABC/POST

37

35

43

1/19/1986

CBS/NYT

36

43

44

11/6/1985

CBS/NYT

50

46

48

7/29/1985

ABC/POST

36

32

41

3/21/1985

ABC/POST

38

34

39

2/22/1985

ABC/POST

38

39

45

10/15/1984

NES

42

41

47

12/1/1982

NES

33

31

34

11/7/1980

CBS/NYT

38

40

38

10/15/1980

NES

26

22

27

3/12/1980

CBS/NYT

26

24

28

12/1/1978

NES

26

29

32

10/15/1976

NES

31

32

38

3/1/1976

GALLUP

32

31

35

12/1/1974

NES

32

36

43

10/15/1972

NES

49

57

56

12/1/1970

NES

50

59

59

10/15/1968

NES

55

71

73

12/1/1966

NES

62

72

10/15/1964

NES

74

82

12/1/1958

NES

72

77

Pew Research Center

A downward trajectory in trust in government also is seen across racial and ethnic lines. Currently, white non-Hispanics, black non-Hispanics and Hispanics all express historically low levels of trust in government. During the Republican presidencies of Reagan and G.W. Bush more whites than blacks said they trusted the government to do the right thing. Conversely, during the Democratic administrations of Clinton and Obama blacks were more likely than whites to express trust in government.

Trust in government by race and ethnicity

Date

.

Hispanic

Black

White

12/04/2017

PEW

23

15

17

4/11/2017

PEW

24

13

20

10/04/2015

PEW

28

23

15

7/20/2014

CNN

9

2/26/2014

PEW

33

26

22

11/15/2013

CBS/NYT

12

10/13/2013

PEW

21

24

17

5/31/2013

CBS/NYT

15

2/06/2013

CBS/NYT

39

15

1/13/2013

PEW

44

38

20

10/31/2012

NES

38

38

16

10/19/2011

CBS/NYT

15

15

8

10/04/2011

PEW

29

25

17

9/23/2011

CNN

10

8/21/2011

PEW

28

35

15

3/01/2011

PEW

28

25

30

10/21/2010

CBS/NYT

40

15

10/01/2010

CBS/NYT

17

9/06/2010

PEW

37

37

20

9/01/2010

CNN

21

4/05/2010

CBS/NYT

18

3/21/2010

PEW

26

37

20

2/12/2010

CNN

22

2/05/2010

CBS/NYT

16

1/10/2010

GALLUP

16

12/20/2009

CNN

21

18

8/31/2009

CBS/NYT

21

6/12/2009

CBS/NYT

16

12/21/2008

CNN

22

10/15/2008

NES

34

28

30

10/13/2008

CBS/NYT

18

7/09/2007

CBS/NYT

11

25

1/09/2007

PEW

35

20

32

10/08/2006

CBS/NYT

31

9/15/2006

CBS/NYT

31

2/05/2006

PEW

26

36

1/20/2006

CBS/NYT

19

34

1/06/2006

GALLUP

33

12/02/2005

CBS/NYT

35

9/11/2005

PEW

12

32

9/09/2005

CBS/NYT

12

29

6/19/2005

GALLUP

32

10/15/2004

NES

34

50

3/21/2004

PEW

17

41

10/26/2003

GALLUP

39

7/27/2003

CBS/NYT

19

37

10/15/2002

NES

41

58

9/04/2002

GALLUP

46

9/02/2002

CBS/NYT

39

7/13/2002

CBS/NYT

39

6/17/2002

GALLUP

48

1/24/2002

CBS/NYT

48

12/07/2001

CBS/NYT

51

10/25/2001

CBS/NYT

60

10/06/2001

GALLUP

61

1/17/2001

CBS/NYT

33

10/15/2000

NES

32

46

7/09/2000

GALLUP

41

4/02/2000

ABC/POST

28

2/14/2000

PEW

36

40

10/03/1999

CBS/NYT

28

9/14/1999

CBS/NYT

30

39

5/16/1999

PEW

28

31

2/21/1999

PEW

32

31

2/12/1999

ABC/POST

32

2/04/1999

GALLUP

33

1/10/1999

CBS/NYT

37

35

1/03/1999

CBS/NYT

39

31

12/01/1998

NES

57

36

38

11/19/1998

PEW

27

26

11/01/1998

CBS/NYT

29

22

10/26/1998

CBS/NYT

26

25

8/10/1998

ABC/POST

33

2/22/1998

PEW

42

33

2/01/1998

GALLUP

36

1/25/1998

CBS/NYT

25

10/31/1997

PEW

39

38

6/01/1997

GALLUP

31

32

1/14/1997

CBS/NYT

15

24

11/02/1996

CBS/NYT

31

30

24

10/15/1996

NES

35

32

5/12/1996

GALLUP

24

5/06/1996

ABC/POST

34

11/19/1995

ABC/POST

26

8/07/1995

GALLUP

22

8/05/1995

CBS/NYT

24

19

3/19/1995

ABC/POST

27

21

2/22/1995

CBS/NYT

20

17

12/01/1994

NES

22

20

10/29/1994

CBS/NYT

16

22

10/23/1994

ABC/POST

21

6/06/1994

GALLUP

15

1/30/1994

GALLUP

17

1/20/1994

ABC/POST

34

21

3/24/1993

GALLUP

20

1/17/1993

ABC/POST

45

25

1/14/1993

CBS/NYT

22

24

10/23/1992

CBS/NYT

21

23

10/15/1992

NES

37

27

28

6/08/1992

GALLUP

23

10/20/1991

ABC/POST

29

36

3/06/1991

CBS/NYT

30

49

3/01/1991

ABC/POST

35

46

12/01/1990

NES

39

22

27

10/28/1990

CBS/NYT

26

25

9/06/1990

ABC/POST

39

43

1/16/1990

ABC/POST

35

38

6/29/1989

CBS/NYT

26

36

1/15/1989

CBS/NYT

33

46

11/10/1988

CBS/NYT

33

45

10/15/1988

NES

25

43

1/23/1988

ABC/POST

29

41

10/18/1987

CBS/NYT

32

41

6/01/1987

ABC/POST

34

49

3/01/1987

CBS/NYT

20

45

1/21/1987

CBS/NYT

27

46

1/19/1987

ABC/POST

31

47

12/01/1986

NES

21

42

11/30/1986

CBS/NYT

23

52

9/09/1986

ABC/POST

26

42

1/19/1986

CBS/NYT

22

45

11/06/1985

CBS/NYT

34

52

7/29/1985

ABC/POST

22

40

3/21/1985

ABC/POST

29

40

2/22/1985

ABC/POST

24

46

10/15/1984

NES

33

46

12/01/1982

NES

26

34

11/07/1980

CBS/NYT

30

40

10/15/1980

NES

26

25

3/12/1980

CBS/NYT

35

24

11/03/1979

CBS/NYT

36

29

12/01/1978

NES

29

29

10/23/1977

CBS/NYT

28

34

4/25/1977

CBS/NYT

34

35

10/15/1976

NES

22

35

6/15/1976

CBS/NYT

35

34

3/01/1976

GALLUP

23

34

12/01/1974

NES

19

38

10/15/1972

NES

32

56

12/01/1970

NES

40

55

10/15/1968

NES

62

61

12/01/1966

NES

65

65

10/15/1964

NES

77

77

12/01/1958

NES

62

74

Pew Research Center

Sources: Pew Research Center, National Election Studies, Gallup, ABC/Washington Post, CBS/New York Times, and CNN Polls. For party, generation and race/ethnicity analysis, selected datasets obtained from searches of the iPOLL Databank provided by the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.

About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.